O'Malley, flanked by state and local officials, announced $200,000 in Community Legacy funds would be issued to help restore Shore Bid Auction & Antiques and William G. Willikers Period Antiques, which were destroyed by the fire. He also announced a continuation of tax credits to those restoring old buildings downtown and $20,000 in state matching funds for emergency advertising to attract customers to the downtown business district.

"The people of Cambridge are going to come out of this and we are going to help you. I believe you are going to come out of this stronger," O'Malley told a group of business owners and political leaders gathered at the old Meyer Nathan Furniture Store building on High Street.

Victor MacSorley, the building's owner, used tax credits to help restore the building to its original 1892 appearance.

O'Malley said he was impressed by the character of the people working together to revitalize the area before the fire and after, saying their efforts would be seen as a positive by those wishing to invest their money and would prove positive for the town's future. Though he knew the town was saddened by the fire, O'Malley wanted them to know he was supporting their efforts and thanked them for making Cambridge better.

He said the number of successful art galleries and antique stores downtown would prove good for the area's economy and attract more businesses.

"The artists are like the Marines; they'll go into buildings when lawyers are afraid to go in," he laughed. "It makes people from beyond Cambridge that will see this want to come here."

He credited the many volunteers who helped the businesses clean up after the fires and the volunteer emergency personnel who responded to the fire, mentioning Dorchester County Councilman Ricky Travers, who responded to the fire as a member of Rescue Fire Company Cambridge.

O'Malley thanked Brett Summers of Novo Development Corp., who recently purchased the burned-out buildings and plans to restore them by using the tax credits the governor mentioned, telling Summers "we want to do everything we can to help you get these streets open."

Part of the 400-block of Race Street was reopened last week, but the section in front of the damaged buildings is still closed. Summers said he hoped to have them stabilized this week so the street can completely reopen.

"The buildings are in no imminent danger. As soon as the bracing is secure we can open the street," he said, thanking the governor for the help.

During his 90-minute visit, O'Malley walked along Race and High streets talking to business owners and a large turnout of curious residents, often going inside the businesses to say hello and see how they are doing.

Two of those he spoke with were Karen Fishell and Kevin Davidson, the owners of Shorebid Antiques. Despite their loss, they kept a positive attitude and were hopeful to return to Race Street.

"There's no use to get down," Davidson said, thanking everyone for their support.

"We have a new slogan  'Cambridge cares,'" Fishell added, saying they were now operating the store out of their Cambridge home.

"We need product," added a laughing Davidson, saying they can be e-mailed at shorebidaol.com.

Capt. Steven Story of the Salvation Army ran the charitable organization's store located next to the destroyed buildings. The store received heat, smoke and water damage from the fire, which forced them to close. He was hopeful they soon would be able to reopen in the same location and not anywhere else.

"We are nowhere right now," he laughed, thanking Summers for his efforts. "We will reopen in the same spot."